Bierbach



(No Model.)

I UNITED 'STATES f PATENTv OFFICE.

oHAELEs FJBIEEBAGH, on MILWAUKEEWISCONSIN, Assienon fro ALBERT l e. BIEEBAGH, on SAME PLAGE.

i FIRE-ESCAPE'.

S121?CIFICA'JION` fomngipart Of Letters Pat-e111: N0. 278,310, dated. May 29, 1'883.

` Application filedFebrnal-y 7,1883. (No model.) i

To all-whom -it 4may concern y v y Be it known that I', CHARLEs F. BIERBAcH,

a citizen of `the United States residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State ofWisconsimhave invented certain new and v such as will enable others skilled in the art to building provided with my escape.

pflcation which it appertains to makeand use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawf ings, and to letters or figures of reference markedthereon, which form part of this speci- `Myinvention relates to improvementsin that class of lire-escapes which are permanently attached to the exterior walls ot' a building` by a tramway,` upon which itis adapted to be easily and quickly moved to all places of exit along the exterior walls of a building, which improvements are further explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents a perspective view `of a Fig. 2 represents a cross-section ot'` the supportingtramway and a side view of one of the attachments by which the ladder` isconnected therewith. Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal y section ofthe tramway and a front View of the upper endof' the ladder. Fig. 4 represents a perspective viewof a shield for protecting theV is provided with `a slot,B, on its lower side for the reception of the hangers -G O. The tramy way is rigidly and permanently secured to `ofwire cable, and the steps or rounds are formed of metal bars or rods. The rollers EE are made spherical in shape, to conform to the interior surface of the tube upon which a c, which are connected together by the axis J. Slides may, if desired,be substituted for the rollers E. `The parts a a are adapted to roll upon the respective sides of the slot B while the hangers are moved through said slot. rlhe axes J are inserted through and are adapted to revolve in the said hangers as the rollers and ladder are moved along said tramway.

To facilitate in turning a-curve in the tramway the upper round, K, ofthe ladderis formed in two pieces connected together by a joint, L,

- which permits the respective sides of the ladder to yield sufciently to conform to the shape of the tramway without cramping the ladder or obstructing its movement. The support-` in g-brackct D is provided with a slot, M, corresponding with the slot `B in the tube, for the passage ot' the hangers. l

N is a b'nding-screw -by which thetube A is prevented from moving in the bracket. f

To facilitate in moving the` ladder when connected w-ith high buildings, a cord, O, is attached to its upper end, which cord -is of f s uflcient length to reachr the ground when dra-wn at an angle to the ladder, as shown, whereby it is obvious thata more direct lateral force may be applied-ro the upper part of, the ladder, and the same more easily moved than 8o when operated solely at its lower end. The cord O is connected with both sides ofthe ladder, 'as shown, by the branch 'cords b and d, so that the dral't upon said cord will always be applied upon the opposite side of the ladder from that toward which the ladder is drawn'.

The `rounds or steps F of the ladder are `covered with an asbest-us shield, P, which prevents contact ofa persons hands with the in the collar A', provided with slots B' B' and bolts C' C'. The inner'ends of the bolts C are secured rigidly into the tube and move with it as the tube expands and contracts, while their outer ends are free to move in the slots The joint thus formed is preferably located in one of thesupporting-brackets D and the collar A' is rigidly retained in a iixed positionr by the screw N, which extends through said bracket and into the exterior surface of said coupling A. It is obvious that when a ladder is thus supported it may be easily and quickly moved past al1 the places of exit from every story in the building and that there is no possibility of the ladder falling. l

In case the building is large, several ladders may be supported uppn a single tramway.

Io prevent the accumulation of ice or the injurious action 'of the elements upon the tramway a shield, R, is provided, which is supported upon said tramway and the supportingbrackets, as indicated in Fig. 2.

If desired, the ladder may be suspended from a singleroller instead of two; or more than two rollers may be employed, as occasion may require. The ladder may be drawn from one end of a building to the other, in either direction, by cords E' E', operating over pulleys F', located at the respective ends of the tramway. Y

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a slotted tubular tramway attached to the exterior walls ot' a building, with therespective sides of a ladder,

said sides being inserted through the slot in said tramway and retained therein by rollers or slides, upon which the sides of the ladder are moved, the respective sides of the ladder being adapted to more through said slot and prevented from turning thereby as the ladder is moved, substantially as set fort-l1.

2. rIhe combination of the slotted tubular tramway A, rollers E E, hangers G C, and the respective sides ofthe ladder F F, said hangers ieing connected together by a bar, K, as set orth.

3. The combination of the slotted tramwayA with theslottedcast-metal bracket D, formed tramway A, slotted bracket D, and slotted coupling-collar S, said collars and bracket being adapted to connect together and support said tramway, as set forth.

6. The combination, with the tubular slotted tramway, ot' the slotted strengthening-collars T, as adapted' to strengthen and yprevent the tramway from.l spreading, as set forth.v

7. The combination, with the steps of a ladder, of the asbestus covering orshield adapted to prevent contact of a persons hands with their heated surfaces, as set forth.

8. The combination, with the tubular slotted tramway A, ofthe shield R, as adapted to protect said tramway from the elements, as set forth.

9. The combination, with one or more ofthe joints of the tubular tramway,of the collar T, provided with slots B' B', screws C' C', bracket D, and set-'screw N, said slots B' bein g adapted to permit of the lateral movement of said screws C' C', as said sections of the tramway expand and contract, substantially as setforth.

l0. The combination, with the hangers C C, of thev jointed step, as adapted to permit the sides of the ladder to conform to the curves in the supporting-tramway, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence ot' two witnesses.

CHARLES F. BIERBAGH.

Witnesses:

J As. B. ERWIN, W. J. SiNNo'r'r. 

